Ralph Fiennes clearly digs Rudolph Nureyev; for his third film as director, he’s attempted to capture the story of one of the world’s greatest dancers, which some success. Fiennes’ previous efforts (Coriolanus and The Invisible Woman) were a couple of real duffers, but with a leading man who certainly looks the part in Oleg Ivenko, The White Crow is more than passable as history.
The title refers to the Russian notion of otherness, of an individual who is separate from the pack; a black sheep in our parlance. Flashing back and forward to key moments in Nureyev’s life as he ponders defecting during a tour to Paris, Fiennes’ attempts to get under the waxen skin of the individual are fairly skin-deep; Nureyev rages at a toy-shop owner whose range of toy trains bore him, or glowers as his patient tutor (Fiennes) refuses to acknowledge his genius.
But things pick up rapidly in the final stretch when Nureyev faces a choice to defect to the West or return to his family in Russia; the facts are compelling in these scenes, and his choice is presented with some gravity. Anyone with a feeling for dance, and Nureyev in particular will be interested in these moments, and Fiennes doesn’t short-change us with the ballet scenes, which looks authentic and feel right.
But much of the presentation is dull, the photography of Russia and Paris is so grim and deliberately out of focus that it’s hard to watch, and David Hare’s script is dry and lacks the requisite insight. Yet a bit like the Queen biopic, a movie about this potent subject only needs to be halfway good to be watchable, and the legend of Nureyev just about carries the film.
Assuming this is not about his appearance in Valentino. Didn’t think Fiennes or his sister much to write home about in the directing business, too obviously arty. And am not a ballet fan though I do like modern dance, but he was an iconic figure so it would be interesting to find out more. Will bear in mind the nomenclatures you find upsetting.
Just don’t call me a tosspot. Several have tried…
Is there a song called “I’m a Little Tosspot?”
Sigh.
“Duffer” – had to look that one up. I’m assuming I should add this to “fuss pot” on the list of things I am NOT to call you?
Yes. Pesky, duffer and fuss-pot are three words banned from this blog while the Binstagram wars rage. I’ve just followed up my exclusive pic of my bins with a shot of one of my sheds, so it’s a busy day for me.
I agree to abstain from calling you a duffer or fuss pot. But I retain the right to use pesky if necessary! That will all be up to you…….
I cannot catch a break. No Sots have ever been pesky out in your neck of the woods. I’m so busy putting one fire out that another one combusts in front of my face.
He had nice legs.
Nureyev? Alex? Both?
Take your pick!
I’d rather not. Don’t remember any requirement for legs or any other appendage in our pics. Felt gratuitous, shoe-horned in, if you ask me.
I’d have to search the posts but I definitely said the pictures should include the person, didn’t have to be all of the person though so legs and other appendages are fine.
the Muppets would definitely have helped him defect. Of course, being so culturally sensitive, they would have referred to him as an european-caucasion-american crow, not that outdated, racist and crass “white” crow.
and to answer your question. Because you are a cupcake, cupcake. I believe the context is similar to bunty, if that helps.
Oh, right, so it’s an insult, like snowflake? This from a man who hides behind his family’s bins, and humblebrags pics of his own legs with lowered socks? Really? is that where we are in 2022?
Exactly. Its the gastronomic version of the insult. Glad we got that cleared up.
Of course, Mr Legs might be referring to something else by the use of the word “cupcake”. It IS a many layered word full of multiple meanings and textural context.
It was seeing the immodest display of Alex’s legs that prompted me to run a piece on Nureyev. PED inquiry? I think that’s the least we should do…
Does it talk about his appearance on The Muppet Show? You might get Booky on board with that.
A couple of real duffers? Or a cupcake?
It doesn’t really cover his appearance on the Muppet Show, and that is presumably the one thing which has left him any import as we empty the bins of history.
What’s a cupcake?
Seems kind of like missing an easy appeal to relevance, now showing him dancing within Miss Piggy. The rest of it is all kind of superfluous isn’t it?
A cupcake (also British English: fairy cake; Hiberno-English: bun) is a small cake designed to serve one person, which may be baked in a small thin paper or aluminum cup. As with larger cakes, frosting and other cake decorations such as fruit and candy may be applied.
What have cupcakes got to do with it?
You originally wrote coupke. So it’s possible you were trying to say cupcake. As in a cupcake of real duffers.
That was five minutes ago. This is now.
Or Valentino?
The Ken Russell one? Now that’s a fun movie…
Wired to the moon.